The Best Foundation For Brides

When it comes to wedding makeup, the best foundation, like bras and jeans, is for most of us particularly difficult to shop for. Light coverage, heavy coverage, pink undertones, yellow undertones, liquid, powder, cushion, mousse... the list of what goes in to the best foundation and face base goes on. We tried 30 of the best foundation 2017 formulas on the market today to bring you the very best for your wedding makeup look on your big day. When finding the best foundation for you, don't forget these top tips:

Always try a foundation in store

It's extremely tricky to colour match yourself from photos on the internet, so pop to a beauty counter to get colour matched. Companies like Estee Lauder even have special gadgets to pull out your perfect foundation shade.

Never buy a foundation straight after trying it

Allow it to 'cook' on your face for 20-30 minutes before making a decision. And harsh deparment store lighting paired with any oxidisation that may occur means the foundation may look different once it's sat on your face.

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Don't be afraid to ask for help

Ask a makeup artist at the counter to apply a full face of foundation, then reassess the situation just before you go to bed. Or, don't be afraid to ask for a sample so you can have a go at applying yourself at home.

Don't be fooled by the price tag

The most expensive foundations aren't always the best. Yes, there is one particularly good one that costs £149 (and is well worth the money) but others we tried around the £100 mark didn't make the cut.

Take reviews with a pinch of salt

It might seem like we're shooting ourselves in the foot, but every skin is different and everyone looks for different things in their perfect foundation. Be guided by them, but ultimately what works for you must be your decision.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation

Lasting for 15 hours and oil free, this heavy-duty foundation will go the distance on your wedding day and keep you shine free in photos. This high performance formula is designed to resist everything from sweat to humidity and water. Plus you'll love the texture and how the liquid sinks in to your skin for that ‘no make-up’ look. £35, Laura Mercier at john lewis.com.

Rodial Airbrush Make-up

A heavy-duty, long-lasting cream, you can build upon this foundation to be as thick or as sheer as your like. And best of all, it offers a satin-luminous finish when you're done. Use a primer first or mix two pumps in with the product. £35, rodial.co.uk.

Smashbox Studio Skin Shaping Stick

A trusty, double-ended stick with foundation and a contouring shade. The foundation side offers build-able coverage with a natural finish, while the contour adds dimension in seconds. £29.50, Smashbox at boots.com.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup

This gel-like blend with ginseng is a light weight formulation ideal for invigorating tired skin. The silky formula helps to combat uneven skin tone and texture, while the Hyaluronic Acid Technology locks in moisture and hydration for a luminous glow. Ideal for brides looking for a dewy look on their wedding day. £28, elizabetharden.co.uk.

Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

Like an Instagram filter for your face, this oil-free blend is humidity-resistant and won’t clog pores. Ideal for brides-to-be looking for medium to full coverage with a shine-free finish. And best of all, the foundation is available in 40 shades. £26, Fenty Beauty By Rihanna at harveynichols.com.

Diorskin Forever Perfect Mousse

Clinique Even Better Glow Light Reflecting Makeup SPF 15

The latest foundation from Clinique could just be our favourite wedding makeup for brides yet… Available in an impressive 30 shades, this mosturising and luminising formula has a silky sheer-to-medium coverage, that is buildable _ and get this, helps prevent future breaks outs. It's best applied with a flat-edged foundation brush, stippled onto the face, focussing on working from your nose outwards for a natural, flawless glow.

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish Foundation Compact

Compact foundations are excellent for a no-mess, easily portable solution, but we've found that when existing hero formulas are made into a compact, they often aren't as good. Enter: Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Even Finish Foundation Compact, which we'd argue is actually better than the original. Rather than a cushion compact with liquid formula, this is a solid cream that creates a seamless finish stippled onto the skin with a flat-edged foundation brush. It's worth heading to counter to get shade-matched, there are 20 shades and the artist can pick the exact shade to complement your skin tone, matching the undertones to colour correct any skin discolouration. Plus, the long wearing formula means that on your wedding day, you won't be rushing to the bathroom for touch ups. Result!

Cover FX Custom Cover Drops

Cover FX's customisable pigmented foundation drops are the absolute dream for brides. However you like your foundation – sheer or full, matte or glowing – you can create the perfect wedding day formula. If you love a matte look, mix 2-3 drops with a mattifying primer, or, if you prefer more of a dewy finish, you can mix these drops with pretty much any liquid product: your favourite moisturiser, BB cream, oil or even serum. Blended into the skin with fingers or a brush, take it from us – the results are flawless. With 24 shades to choose from, you can get the one that is the perfect tone for you, then experiment with coverage and finish.

NARS Velvet Matte Foundation Stick

NARS foundation stick may well be our favourite foundation launch of the year. It comes in an impressive array of shades (we’d expect nothing less from NARS), so it’s worth going into store to get matched up – for a true colour match, the best place to swipe is just above your collar bone. The formula is creamy and dewy, and sweeps seamlessly across the skin. It’s ideal for brides wanting to be able to place their coverage where they want, or for those wanting something lightweight to let the skin’s natural glow shine through. For a fuller coverage, we recommend striping across skin and buffing in, either using the built-in antibacterial sponge, a beauty blender or brush.

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation

The ultimate multitasker, Bourjois’ 123 Perfect Foundation is a little bottle of magic. Essentially a CC Cream and foundation mixed into one, this innovative formula covers all bases with its three colour correcting pigments. Yellow eradicates dark circles making you look well rested on the big day, mauve abolishes dullness leaving you glowing in every photo and green neutralises redness, concealing any breakouts. The result? A flawless complexion that stays put for up to 16 hours. What's more, it's super hydrating thanks to extracts of cotton flower, and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores, allowing your skin to breathe from 'I do' to dancefloor.

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick

If you find liquid foundation too messy, or struggle to strike a balance between just enough but not-too-much coverage, you need a foundation stick in your make up arsenal. Tom Ford's is our favourite because of its deceptively lightweight texture but coverage that packs a punch. We use it both as a foundation and concealer, because just with one swipe it masks redness, pigmentation and any blemish marks. But the best bit? Applied correctly, it gives the most beautiful bridal 'glow' that lasts all day (and night!) long. £66, selfridges.com

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer

When Clinique's high-coverage Beyond Perfecting Foundation launched in 2015, it quickly shot to a high status on our list of best foundations for brides. Our beauty team praised the cream-like texture and dewy finish. Although it offers full coverage (and no need for concealer - hooray!), it's far from cakey. The key for perfect application? Clinique's foundation comes with a wand applicator, which you should use to dot the creamy formula on your forehead, chin and cheeks, and blend – (Clinique's Buff Brush, £28, clinique.co.uk is brilliant.). What makes this foundation even better is the shade range: there are 28 different shades, so you're bound to find the perfect match for your skin tone.

Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation

It’s no surprise that Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation has gained cult status alongside the original ‘Touche Eclat’ highlighter. The lightweight formula offers sheer to medium coverage but can be layered to achieve the desired effect: the key is to apply a light layer with a brush, then buff more in to areas which need fuller coverage with a beauty sponge. The myriad of shades gives an impressively close match, so much so that the Brides team testers were asked if they were even wearing make up. For oily skin, you'll likely need a powder or blotting paper to eradicate excess oil. Nevertheless, it lasted all day. A trusty staple for any wedding day. £32.50, boots.com

Trish McEvoy Even Skin Water Foundation

If you want want a trusty base that won't slide off your face halfway through the day (thanks to the built-in primer), this is your go-to. Don't be put off by the word 'water' in Trish McEvoy's Even Skin Foundation, it gives deceptively full coverage for gorgeous glowing skin. The formula is very thin and runny, which means it's not easy to blend with fingers (it rolled into little lumps when we tried it) but with a foundation brush or beauty blender, it works like a dream. Because of the unique, lightweight formula, it can look like it's separated - so be sure to shake well before using the pipette to drop onto the back of your hand or directly onto your beauty blender. Apply right and it won't let you down.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid foundation

A quick poll of the Brides office tells us that MAC foundations have been on the team's shelves for years, with Studio Fix being the favourite. For brides wanting full-coverage, we love the fact it provides a beautiful, even base without being cakey. Just be sure to apply a primer beneath to avoid any make up collecting in fine lines. There are over 40 shades in the Studio Fix range, so you’re guaranteed to find one that matches your tone - with 'C' foundations working for a cooler, more yellow skin tone and 'W' foundations matching a pinky, peach tone. The formula is rather thick, so the best application method is to apply is with fingers and then buff in with a flat-surfaced foundation brush, like Shiseido’s Perfect Foundation Brush. What's more, it's one of those foundations that looks better with time – give it 20 minutes to melt into your skin before working out where you need concealer or powder. And once on, it will not budge. £33, houseoffraser.co.uk

Chanel Les Beiges FoundationAlso known as the ‘healthy-glow foundation’, Chanel Les Beiges is a sure fire winner for your wedding day. The formula not only smells divine, but is like a liquid Instagram filter for skin. It's made it into our list of favourite foundations because of its ability to improve the overall quality and tone of skin, evening out redness and masking hypermigmentation. Our favourite application method is to press the mousse-like texture onto the skin with your fingers, resulting in a glowing, even finish (using a brush it runs the risk of looking streaky). If you're a die-hard brush lover, you can always use it to touch up at the end. £36, selfridges.com

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

If you're someone who usually wear a tinted moisturiser or BB cream but want something with a little more coverage for their big day, you'll love Nars Sheer Glow. It can be worn on its own, or mixed in with your usual foundation formula to add a dewy radiance. In fact, because the coverage is so light, NARS UK lead stylist Anna Priadka suggests using it after your usual base for a seamless, luminous finish. Because who doesn't want to look like a glowing goddess on their wedding day? £31, selfridges.com

Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation

It's a bold claim, but we think Shiseido’s Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation is the easiest formula to apply we've ever come across. Thanks to its thin, watery formula, it lends itself to many application methods, and while Shiseido experts recommend a brush, we found it just as easy with our fingers. For that coveted airbrushed effect, press it into skin and buff around your nose, chin and forehead. It's one of those foundations that provides just enough coverage without plastering your skin in product, meaning you can still see your skin underneath. For brides on their wedding day, and everyone besides, we can’t recommend this enough. £32, houseoffraser.co.uk

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation

One of our biggest foundation peeves is having a foundation that promises glow, but just makes our skin look oily. Not with Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24 hour foundation. True to its name, the formula didn’t budge all day, and despite being rigorously tested during a busy event, there was no need to touch up. The formula creates a matte finish; the perfect base to build colour and radiance with blusher and a dusting of bronzer. With 18 shades and a particularly good selection for darker skin tones, this is a winner for a day-to-night base.

Estee Lauder Double Wear

If you’re in any way worried about your makeup budging on your wedding day, or don’t like the idea of having to touch up all day, Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-In Place Makeup is your new best friend. This foundation gives a full coverage that sinks into the skin – rather than sitting on top – and literally stays in place all day. For the best results, stipple onto skin working from the centre outwards and finish with a spritz of make up setting spray. We love. £31, debenhams.com

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

A favourite of celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Giorgio Armani's lightweight formula feels super soft on the skin. The radiance is this formula's biggest plus and it's best suited for brides who already have gorgeous skin that just needs a little boost. Build up in areas like the cheekbones and down the nose for a glowing, airbrushed effect that'll reflect the light in all the right places. £37, houseoffraser.co.uk

Sisley Sisleya Le Teint anti-ageing foundation

When testing foundations, it was a resounding ‘I do’ to Sisley’s Sisleya Le Teint anti-ageing foundation. It is an expensive choice, but the light, creamy finish is totally worth it (we got several compliments about our skin when wearing it). Sisely's formula perfectly combines skincare and makeup as it’s packed with anti-ageing ingredients such as Acacia extract to boost cellular energy and radiance. Plus, after 4 weeks it promises smoother, firmer skin. Wear in the run up to your wedding day, as well as on the day itself. You'll wonder what you did without it. £98, johnlewis.com

La Prairie Skin Caviar Foundation and Concealer

There’s no beating around the bush, £146 for foundation is expensive, but hear us out. In the box is the pot, plus a stylish silver stand and concealer brush: there's no denying it doesn't look the part. The whipped, lightweight texture provides a brilliant, full coverage but is the type of coverage that compliments – rather than masks – your own skin. It comes with a sponge to apply the foundation but we found working the product in with our fingers and buffing with a Beautyblender worked a treat. Plus, having a concealer that instantly matches the foundation will save you from investing in an alternative product. We love the little brush, too, as it's the perfect size to blend any harsh edges into the foundation. Win-win!

Becca Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème

Our must haves when it comes to foundations? Full coverage without the mask like finish. Easy to apply: a consistency that’s not too watery but not the texture of mud, either. The right shade is also extremely key – so many foundation lines that carry shades for darker skin tones, for example, are either too ‘cold’ or too ‘warm’ meaning you could end up looking grey or orange. Becca is one of the few foundations that ticks Every. Single. Box. It leaves you with a wonderfully dewy finish that lasts all day. To up the ante on your wedding day, mix it with it with Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector. The duo will give you such radiance that your skin will look flawless in photographs.

Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation

When you hear the words ‘candleglow’, ‘soft’, ‘luminous’, you can’t help but to expect great things. Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation does exactly what it says on the tin, and we're big fans. The texture is a little runny, but still manageable. And be warned: a little goes a long way so don’t be tempted to slather tons of it on if you're after a natural finish for your big day. This is one that is great for dry skins in particular as it is incredibly hydrating and even when it has settled, it looks neither matt or greasy. It gets the balance just right. If you are looking for a medium coverage cover up that gives you that all important glow on your big day, this is it. £35, johnlewis.com